TRAVEL CONTENT, CONCEPTS & CONSULTING BY MARK CHESNUT

As you might guess, I'm passionate about travel. I'm also passionate about providing travelers and travel advisors with news and travel tips to help them make informed decisions. And I'm passionate about helping travel industry clients engage with customers and build business.

Scroll down to see my latest reports from various media outlets (my work has appeared in American Way, Fodor's, Forbes Travel Guide, HuffPost, the Miami Herald and Travel Weekly, to name a few). I also do public speaking and work with travel industry clients to create compelling content. Plus, I've got a memoir anthology coming out in 2022! 

While you're here, why don't you go ahead and click that beautiful big SUBSCRIBE button. You'll be rewarded with a weekly email summary of my latest travel writing (just once a week, I promise).

Check Out My Latest Articles Below...
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TravelPulse •

Inside Central America’s Most Modern New Airport Terminal in Panama City

Central America’s busiest airport is primed to handle even more passengers, thanks to the June debut of Terminal 2 at Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport. It’s especially good news for passengers flying Copa Airlines, the facility’s largest carrier. The new terminal, which measures some 116,000 square feet, is a welcome and much-needed addition to the bustling airport, with 20 new gates, 38 Copa Airlines ticket counters and 22 self-service kiosks. The new construction brings total airpo
GayCities •

How to Make Your Dream of Becoming a Travel Writer a Reality (Not Really)

If you ask fifty people to name their idea of a dream job, at least one of them will probably say “travel writer." In this excerpt from "Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable Mortality and the Enduring Allure of Frequent Flyer Miles," award-winning travel writer shares his decidedly personal – and strangely unprofessional — story of his route to pursue his dream.
TravelAge West •

10 New All-Inclusive Hotels in Mexico for Every Type of Traveler

The all-inclusive resort concept has long been a favorite with Mexico-bound travelers. And destinations around the country continue to up the ante, as new hotels debut with novel features and activities. As Mexico’s all-inclusive segment continues to grow and diversify, one thing is clear: This category of vacation experience is a far cry from the “one size fits all” concept of yesteryear. Today, options range from ultra-luxurious to budget-friendly, and from sprawling resort complexes to bouti
Prepare for Departure
Writer's Digest •

6 Things My Career as a Travel Writer Taught Me About Writing a Memoir

For nearly 30 years as a travel writer, Mark Chesnut has spent his days exploring the world and writing about what he sees. Here, he shares 6 things his career as a travel writer has taught him about writing his first memoir. I’ve been a travel writer for almost 30 years, living my dream of exploring the world while sharing insider travel tips and vacation inspiration. My work has appeared in some of the top travel industry and consumer media outlets. But when I decided to shift gears and write my first memo
Forbes •

Travel Writer’s Memoir Puts A Personal Meaning On Departures

Within the travel media industry, Mark Chesnut is known for his bylines in many trade and consumer publications and his blog on Latin American travel, LatinFlyer.com. Yet recently, Chesnut published a new memoir that takes a completely different route. It centers on his lifelong relationship with his late mother, Eunice Chesnut. In “Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable Mortality & the Enduring Allure of Frequent Flyer Miles” (Vine Leaves Press, 2022), Chesn
TravelAge West •

11 of the Top Luxury Hotels and Villas in the Caribbean

According to a recent Virtuoso study, 2022 is the year of big-budget vacations, as travelers make up for lost time by treating themselves to extravagant getaways. In fact, 76% of travel advisors report a surge in ultra-luxury bookings, with African safaris, Caribbean islands, international city destinations and ocean cruises as the top preferred experiences. And the Caribbean, with its diverse array of destinations and offerings, is well-positioned to take advantage of this trend. RELATED: Lux
TravelAge West •

What’s New in Acapulco, From New Attractions to Enhanced Safety Initiatives

This May, Acapulco played host to the annual Tianguis Turistico Mexico 2022, giving the country’s jet-set vacation destination a big opportunity to showcase all that’s new and exciting — and there was quite a bit of good news to share. Visitor statistics reported by the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office, for example, were quite promising. So far this year, the city has witnessed a 16% spike in arrivals compared to 2021, and a 31% surge in hotel occupancy in May 2022, compared to the same pe
TravelAge West •

Hotel Review: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana

My one regret during my stay at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana is that I did not have enough time to get locked in a room. Not that I wanted to be trapped in my own guestroom, mind you. (Although the comfy accommodations certainly would be a pleasant place to be stuck for a few days.) My yearning instead was focused on Escapology, the resort’s escape room experience. This was the first time I’d ever stayed at a hotel with an on-site escape room — and also the first time I’d seen laser tag
TravelAge West •

Where to Go and What to Do in Mazamitla, Mexico

There’s so much to love about Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos, the 132 designated “Magical Towns” recognized for their cultural, architectural or natural significance. And on a side trip I took during a recent visit to Guadalajara — the capital of the state of Jalisco — I just may have found one of the most beautiful of the Pueblos Magicos: Mazamitla. Located about 80 miles south of Guadalajara in the Sierra del Tigre mountain range, Mazamitla is sometimes called the “Switzerland of Mexico,” thanks t
LatinFlyer.com •

My First Trip to the USA WITHOUT a COVID-19 Test — What You Need to Know

My nostrils breathed a sigh of relief when on June 12 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced they’d no longer require a negative COVID-19 test for air travelers entering the United States. But how different is the travel experience today? Well, it’s definitely less of a headache. Ever since I started flying during the pandemic in June 2020, I’ve had to get used to having my nose violated before boarding every flight to the United States. I willingly complied, since I’m a firm
LatinFlyer.com •

How To Tell Your Life Story with a Cool & Creative Personal Route Map

For the airline industry, route maps serve as informational marketing material, showing where the carrier flies with stylized graphics designed to complement the airline’s brand identity. But who says you have to be an airline to flaunt where you’ve been? Ever since I was a pre-teen, I’ve maintained what I call a personal route map. When you create a diagram of everywhere you’ve been (whether it’s around the world or just around the region where you live), you’re creating a visually engaging, a
TravelAge West •

Why Are So Many Flights Being Canceled?

Staff shortages. Grounded planes. Flight cancellations. Soaring airfares. Even casual travelers can see that that 2022 is far from the airline industry’s shining hour. Current statistics paint a decidedly unpleasant picture of air travel today. According to the United States Department of Transportation, more than 63,000 flights were cancelled so far this year, compared to just over 44,000 in 2019, before the pandemic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index, airl
Grief is My Side Hustle •

‎Grief Is My Side Hustle: Mark Chesnut, Author of Prepare For Departure

Award-winning travel writer Mark Chesnut talks about the valuable lessons he learned about grief, forgiveness and acceptance. In this podcast episode we explore issues that many people have faced: anticipatory grief, the illness of a parent and the evolution of relationships between mothers and their adult children. But we also talk about how humor can be healing, and how travel can be, too.
LatinFlyer.com •

The Best Pride & LGBTQ Travel Destinations in Latin America

During LGBTQ pride month, the world celebrates inclusion and diversity. But which destinations in Latin America and the best places to do that? Finding a welcoming vacation destination is important, regardless of when you travel. But the month of June is an especially good time to consider the places that truly roll out the rainbow carpet, as several destinations in Latin America showcase their inclusiveness with vibrant LGBTQ pride parades and celebrations. From Mexico to the Caribbean, from C
TravelAge West •

Best Family Hotels in the Caribbean With Kids' Clubs

With the first day of summer just around the corner, families are eager to embark on their long-anticipated summer vacations. But what are the best options for kids in the Caribbean this year? As tourism continues to recover around the region, families will find an ever-increasing number of possibilities. Caribbean resorts with children’s programs are especially well-equipped to support family getaways, providing kids with lots of fun choices for both play and learning opportunities. Here are
TravelAge West •

Mexico News and Updates From 2022 Tianguis Turistico

Mexican tourism officials and the private sector are expecting an especially strong 2022 and 2023, according to multiple attendees at the 46th edition of Tianguis Turistico Mexico, the country’s annual tourism convention. According to figures announced during the conference, which was held at the end of May in Acapulco at the Expo Mundo Imperial convention complex, Tianguis Turistico broke records with a total of 64,950 business appointments — more than any other year in the event’s history. At
TravelPulse •

Podcast: The Latest in LGBTQ Travel + New Travel Memoir

This week, TravelPulse Executive Editor Eric Bowman is joined by Mark Chesnut, travel writer, owner of LatinFlyer.com and author of the new book PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE. The two first discuss the latest trending news in travel, including how the industry reacted to the news of the pre-departure COVID-19 testing requirement coming to an end. Later in the show, Chesnut shares insights about LGBTQ travel trends and a preview of his new travel memoir.

Amazing Mexican Dancers, Mexican Culture at Tianguis 2022 (VIDEO)

If you’re a fan of Mexican culture, Mexican traditions, Mexican costumes and traditional clothing, you won’t want to miss this colorful travel video and my photo portfolio from Tianguis Turistico 2022, Mexico’s annual tourism convention. Every year, hundreds of people gather for this Mexico travel event, celebrating Mexican life and tourism by showcasing the beauty of traditional Mexican costumes from every state in the nation — from Aguascalientes and Baja California to Yucatan and Zacatecas.
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